Agenda item

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive;

a)     Approve an increase in fares in the Corby zone based upon the harmonised fare tariff detailed as option two in Appendix F to the report

b)     Approve an increase in fares in the East zone based upon the harmonised fare tariff detailed as option two in Appendix F to the report

c)      Approve an increase in fares in the Kettering zone based upon the harmonised fare tariff detailed as option two in Appendix F to the report

d)     Approve an increase in fares in the Wellingborough zone based upon the harmonised fare tariff detailed as option two in Appendix F to the report

e)     Refuse the automatic increases proposed every second and fourth year by the Wellingborough Hackney Carriage Association (WHCA)

Reason for Recommendation: The trade have made representation that an increase in fares is required to ensure that the increased costs of running the service are covered. Alignment of fares is considered to be important, so that all residents within North Northamptonshire will be subject to the same maximum fare, regardless of where they reside or work.

Alternative Options Considered: The alternative options which were also considered by the Licensing and Appeals Committee are;

a)     Corby Zone;

i)    To recommend the approval of the Corby Hackney Owners Association (CHOA)  proposed increase in fare tariff

ii)   To recommend a different increase in fares

iii) Refuse any increase

            b)   East Zone

i) To recommend a different increase in fares

ii) Refuse any increase

c)   Kettering Zone

i) To recommend the approval of the Central Taxis/Trade Proposal/Kettering Hackney proprietors proposed increase

ii) To recommend the approval of the Kings Kabs proposed increase

iii) To recommend the approval of the Burton Cabs/ Easy Cab/Kettering Hackney proprietors proposed increase

iv) To recommend a different increase in fares

v) Refuse any increase

d)  Wellingborough Zone

i) To recommend the approval of the WHCA proposed increase

ii) To recommend a different increase in fares

iii) Refuse any increase

The Chair invited to Cllr Martyn Reuby to address the meeting. Cllr Reuby noted his regular contact with Corby Hackney Carriage Association and the concerns raised regarding proposed increases to fares and the potential for these to be unaffordable for residents. Cllr Reuby noted that Corby as a town was more reliant on taxis than other areas in North Northamptonshire and may not benefit from harmonisation of fares in this regard. An increase in fares had the potential to decimate the taxi industry locally and leave the Council unable to operate certain statutory services.

Ian Robb was then provided with the opportunity to speak. Mr Robb requested that the harmonisation of fares proposal be rejected as it imposed an increase on the people of Corby in a price-sensitive industry. Mr Robb stated that a petition totalling 1300 signatories had been gathered against the fare increase and that the proposed increase went against the Department of Transport best practice guidance and would disenfranchise taxi drivers.

Tam McGuirn then addressed the meeting and stated harmonisation of fares would cause unfair harm to the people of Corby and enquired how fare charging would be monitored given current enforcement staffing levels. He concluded by stating that a rise in fares would result in unlicenced taxi operation.

Neil Rielly was provided with the opportunity to speak to the Executive and stated that the recommendations before members indicated a lack of knowledge and understanding of the taxi industry which would result in taxi owners being forced to leave the trade and leave customers confused as to pricing. He considered that harmonisation would benefit nobody except the Council.

Cllr John McGhee then addressed the Executive and noted the case of an individual who would see monthly taxi costs rise significantly as a result of the proposals, with harmonisation impacting a great many other people at a time of severe financial crisis.

The final speaker was Roy McArther who stated that on-street negotiation of fares was not good practice, and that harmonisation would damage Hackney Carriage operators to the benefit of the private hire trade that was not subject to the recommendations. He concluded by stating that elderly and vulnerable customers would not be able to afford increased prices and requested harmonisation take place gradually over a three-year period.

The Chair thanked the speakers for their comments before asking Cllr David Brackenbury, Executive Member for Growth and Regeneration to introduce a report that provided information regarding requests received from Hackney Carriage proprietors to implement fare increases for Hackney Carriage journeys and requested that Executive consider the requested fare increases and decide whether these should be accepted, and if so, whether in whole or in part, noting that any revised Fares Tariff recommended were the maximum amount that could be charged, with Hackney Carriage proprietors being at liberty to charge a lower fare.

Cllr Brackenbury thanked the speakers for their input as well as officers, members of the taxi trade and members of the public who had engaged with the formal consultation process.

It was considered to be important that fares were harmonised across North Northamptonshire to provide clarity for residents wherever they engaged a Hackney Carriage in the area. It was also recognised that a request for a fair fare increase reflected an increase to motoring costs and the cost of living.

It was further considered that Option Two as set out fully in Appendix F to the report would be the fairest solution for the trade and its customers, officers having taken onboard feedback to amend the proposed 50% night-time uplift timing from 6am to 5am.

Cllr Brackenbury stated that the Council did not wish to price any operator out of the market and suggested that as the Hackney Carriage trade was well-organised in Corby that operators come together and set their own maximum fare rate, provided it was less than the maximum recommended by the report.

Cllr Brackenbury concluded by noting that this was a difficult decision and had formed a very complex piece of work, but that the proposal before members could be of benefit by providing a justifiable uplift in fares in the face of an increased cost of motoring and living.

Cllr Graham Lawman spoke and noted that drivers in Wellingborough had not had an increase in fares since 2011 and the work that had gone into the report was to be welcomed.

Cllr Binley echoed the suggestion of Cllr Brackenbury that Corby-based operators agree as a whole to set their own maximum fare below that proposed in the report.

The Chair then invited the Chair of the Licensing and Appeals Committee, Cllr Jonathan Ekins to address the meeting. Cllr Ekins noted that it was understood that setting tariffs for the Hackney Carriage trade was a difficult decision in light of the current financial climate. Cllr Ekins reiterated the point that the recommendations before the Executive were the maximum fare that could be charged and there was nothing to prevent operators coming together to charge a lower fare if they wished to do so. Harmonisation of fares across the whole of the North Northamptonshire area would allow operators or drivers the equal opportunity to work wherever they wanted within the area without financial penalty.

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive;

a)     Approve an increase in fares in the Corby zone based upon the harmonised fare tariff detailed as option two in Appendix F to the report

b)     Approve an increase in fares in the East zone based upon the harmonised fare tariff detailed as option two in Appendix F to the report

c)      Approve an increase in fares in the Kettering zone based upon the harmonised fare tariff detailed as option two in Appendix F to the report

d)     Approve an increase in fares in the Wellingborough zone based upon the harmonised fare tariff detailed as option two in Appendix F to the report

e)     Refuse the automatic increases proposed every second and fourth year by the Wellingborough Hackney Carriage Association (WHCA)

Reason for Recommendation: The trade have made representation that an increase in fares is required to ensure that the increased costs of running the service are covered. Alignment of fares is considered to be important, so that all residents within North Northamptonshire will be subject to the same maximum fare, regardless of where they reside or work.

Alternative Options Considered: The alternative options which were also considered by the Licensing and Appeals Committee are;

a)     Corby Zone;

i)    To recommend the approval of the Corby Hackney Owners Association (CHOA)  proposed increase in fare tariff

ii)   To recommend a different increase in fares

iii) Refuse any increase

            b)   East Zone

i) To recommend a different increase in fares

ii) Refuse any increase

c)   Kettering Zone

i) To recommend the approval of the Central Taxis/Trade Proposal/Kettering Hackney proprietors proposed increase

ii) To recommend the approval of the Kings Kabs proposed increase

iii) To recommend the approval of the Burton Cabs/ Easy Cab/Kettering Hackney proprietors proposed increase

iv) To recommend a different increase in fares

v) Refuse any increase

d)  Wellingborough Zone

i) To recommend the approval of the WHCA proposed increase

ii) To recommend a different increase in fares

iii) Refuse any increase